Sheet feeding device for article labeling machines



July 15, 1952 P.A E. FISCHER ETAL 2,603,483

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR ARTICLE LABELING MACHINES Original Filed July 5l, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 THEIR ATTORNEY;

July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER ErAL 2,603,483

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR ARTICLE LAEELING MACHINES Original Filed July 3l, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 |NvEN-rons 1 PAUL inscrit-RSI EDGAR ARDELL BY mi l 5MM (Bamwm THEIR ATTORNEYS July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER r-:rAL 2,603,483

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR ARTICLE LABELING MACHINES Original Filed July 31, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToRs PAUL E. FISCHER EDGAR ARDELL THE IR ATTORNEYS 4 l I I ...Il III" 9v 4 n m l SRL 4 n Rem.. 0H DE 3 n.. 4 Tcn v N qw T Nw R 1 l WF m 2 I -l WER T N A I h o m LA l' H S A UG Mm M .9 u l n AD E M Tm l G M .MT N m Z a d f2 0 3 1 N. m Il wf ||m n E o o o o W m l @x R I l l /W E T .l /m fnv m 7\ A, Z I /m m w m w -f m, u F E o N Em M ,1w/w ,wnl. o. Il DI E Ilm am. V1 I D G ill N 9 o o Il m 1 m L e Wm E q I m n 5 l fh T v. WW w m u N J \o w d 4 u 5.11.., ...4a. 2.5.? J .y N. M .HM y n M l n .l g .1 r 0 July 15, 1952 July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,603,483

SHEET EEEDING DEVICE FOR ARTcLE LABELING MACHINES Original Filed July 5l, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 f7 f2? di? THEIR ATTORNEYS July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER ETAL 2,603,483

SHEET FEEDINC DEVICE FCR ARTICLE LABELINC MACHINES Original Filed July 31, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 w) INVENTORS \i 8 PAUL E. FISCHER Sr EDGAR ARDELL THEIR ATTORNEYS July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER ErAL SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR ARTICLE LABELING MACHINES Original Filed July 31, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 NQS QW,

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S S W E INVENTORS Umm 'PAUL E FISCHER 8f BQEDGQR nave-LL .7 Q Hmm, fmoudm fwuwun THEIR ATTORNEYS July 15, 1952 P. E. FlscHl-:R ErAL SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR ARTICLE LABELING MACHINES Original Filed July 5l, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 53., 5 @ma w TwR DN WFA/mm VAR T mEA MIA LG l uw m A Y P B w July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER ETAL 2,503,483

SHEET EEEDING DEVICE FoE AETECLE LAEELING MACHINES Original Filed July 3l, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTO'RS PAUL E FISCHER EDGAR RRDELL TrIFlR ATTORNEYS Patented July 15, 1952 I raul E. Fischer/Portland,- and, Edgar Arden,

Middletown, Conn., assignors, byvmesne-'a's'signments, to Emhart Manufactnrring''ompany', a 1

corporationo'f Delaware l original aplic'atioJuly .31, v1945, serial No. '608,050. Divided and this aiplicatiolijFebruf ,aryl 27, 1.950, Serial No. 1473124 y 15 Claims.: (CL-ZYlj-S) ff; 'fz 0. l a', Y ,l

fr This invention relatesV to'sheet feedingvmecha.- sectonltakenlcnline I Zl-'lofLFig 10 andi also nismi-ntended particularlyfor-'feedinglabels in ofFig. Vi f K. I y y' 4:1' inachin'esfor applyinglabels to articles s'uclivas l "fFig-.I 13-is a-vertical section taken'on lin I3v btt1es,'ca`ns'land the-1ike,'-but also? capabiefof ofFigL-Q:looking-toward therigmgand. general application `in apparatus lWhere exible 5 Vfligs. 14to=2 0'inchisive,areliagrammatc Views sheets are reduiredto-befe'd, one at` a time; from 'sliwinfg'isiccessiyeipositions .cfutliepartsshown afmagazine-o1-stacli, for example `Wrapping main Fig. 1.3 in feedinr ingle;labelrcmeachiof chxine s, ticket krlnachines,bock machines andthe thetwcmagazines f f like: fThe pesentaplication is radivisiorrof ap- Rferrir'ls how-'iq' Heaccompanyingdrawings plieati'fn'Serial.'Nc.f68,05*0ifiledV July v131', '-1945, 10 the'bottles"t0b llafr`1'eled areadvancednlsuitably IIQWPatent No. 2,4%;667, Ygranted February '28; spaced'relation on an endless chain vor conveyor lfsafrartiieLabeling Machine. f 31 whichtffeisfrQm-rigmmien, @ts-shown ming.

" 1", cmmedusisfat 'aiuniforni speed@ erfvicciity; Fixed? eqia'lly spafceflifrelation on/conveyrare Vidy animproved sheetf feedingmachine.. n her object'of thejinventionjisjto'iprovde reha e mechanism for feeding or removing. the 'laby 'sgjcrther sheets, 'includinghsheets' of thin and extremely'plable material such a'sfcellophane and .other plastic sheet materials; foneata time,

The." venti `nwill'be s et forthasembodi labelingapparatua' by way of example, smi 'being shown in@A the Y vaccompanying .iS a Ye'ltic'alfsecton .of.the labeling or' label-applying mechanism taken lengthwise bottle `ninfa nair'of narrwlsuctio ams l whieh generally f by reference 1A, numeral jl 4 aV transverse yertical taken'cn i @i254 df Fig: lndrajwnto the ame view mmizqnnar secties Lwierigen Asec .v I'sh-cwi two labelmagazines; Fig

llgm theicp'posite direction from Fig. '2 lto show them downward to the upper .en dof. suctzloric QnJ- A the' label carrier chains; Veyor chains I3. Chains; y| 1.ar e.Vappropriately i "f gfT is av partiallengthwise vertical section spacedymirarla-tty allow vthe bottles on .ccnveyor'S takeph'l'illf'lOf-Fie: 45 [to paSSb'eiWeen iemand-i0 @necesi @marginal "fFig. fs'a vhorizontal"sectiontaken-online 8-8 pgrtigns'pf .the Oppgsitesidesoffith@ bels Q 'of'Fig-'.f6,butdrawn to fllscale;vv 5' A front surfaces of the labels arepressedvlbyfsuc; 'f.`.Fif=-,;vv 9 is avvertical transverse section of the lnagainstthe outerfaces ofthe-chainsgwhich, labelfeeding mechanism shown at the upper part as they descend holdfthe labels stretched between '0f Fig-"1' and takenon'line' 9-9 0f that figurer-f' 5 .theminihefpataorthebotlegig. e): "Fgg 10 is a vertical section taken on line Illl0 Each lbodylabelfl!! as-it? reaches a position :an of Fig. 9.1ookingtoward the right; v .0, appropriate vdistancefabove;fthe-.zbottomf.; of; ...the .7;Fig. 1L isf asimilar section taken online I I-;fl l bottle;standingon-;,conieyor:;3z engagesxazpar off of-Fig; .i y positioning-,rstoprmembers;|9.-(Figs. V2. and.;6) 75,.,Fig; 125s aviewpartlylin planand partly in whlchf--arrest-the' :downward-:movement offgzthe yta njline 6-46 of Fig', 1 and also Fig. 7,1'ooktoqclarnp` theglabelsbetween them an@ convey label. The label is held chains I3 sliding along the surface of the label Ysprockets 62T.

.i at this point by the stops,

until the bottle meets it.

The neck label which closelyV follows the bodyY label onthesuetion'icarrier chainsI3 is applied in a similar manner, its bottom edge being Vengaged by two retractable stop members 2 I (Fig. 6). f Stop members 2I are projected into the path of l the neck label II after the Vbod-y label? I hasl passed these stops and are then retracted to-per-i' flat, preferably by grinding and honing. Guide rails 'I3 are mounted adjacent the perforated paths 'I2 to guide the outer sides of chains I3. Chains I3 arametallic {chains-composed vof links helditogether bypms andhave flat'parallel inner and outer faces, respectively, with air pasmit the body label I0 for the nextnbottnleA tobe I, carried down to the stop members |9. Likethe Y body labels, the neck labels also receivev anA apf Y plication of adhesive before theyreach the stop members 2 I.

The adhesive is applied to botlrbody andneck labels while they are being 'carried downwardly, A.

by transfer chains I8 (which hold the labels at their center lines), by means of adhesive-apply- 1 j ing mechanism indicated generally by numeral l 22 `(Fig. `1)'which applies stripes of gum,Y along f the margins. y

to thebody label or the neck label, or both, a code marking to `identify the inspector, or yfor some It is sometimes desirable to apply other purpose. Such marking may be applied by means of a `code-marking mechanism,-indi 'cated generally vby numeral 23. 'Y

Having thus described the general,-arrar'ige-V mentand operation of the apparatus .ofthe 'invention.-itsvarious parts `vvill no Whbe/setforth i-ndetail. A Y f l s The-labeling head orA label-applyingv mecha- I -2 comprises two similar upright side frame niembers-` an d3l9a inthe form of iron castings.

f Tl-ieseimembersrestonthe-horizontal bed40 of tha-apparatus and are tiedtogether ati-theirup'-,

frame members 3 9 and39a supportl the va`riou s parts of the lz'rbel-applying mechanism.

The suction conveyor I4 comprises the tvvov suctionchains I3 and two suction chambers or boxes 43 andr43a down which these chains travel. l It vis lateral dimensions-- To this end the right and leftV handthieald Vshafts '45 af1d 41,"`a2i"1d a-SSO- ci'ated parts `showninFig. 1 are provided. 'I Y Carrier chainsY I3` are :trained around driving Y sprockets 62`wl`1chjare slidably'keyed to theicony 'tiiuoslyfdriven cross, shaftQS'I, and as maybe fsejin 2, arearranged to be moved laterally nr'fthis' shaftbybracket members '44 arid' 44a. Following the vcoursefof chains VI3 in Figl, they I The suction chambers'or lboxes 43 and A113m are elongated structures as maybe rseen nlFig 2'ai1d are hollotv'as'l shown in Fig. 8. They each have ai va'cuunir connection 68' for a flexible tub'ing'inot shown) Ywhich forms a part 'of a vacuum line-69 :sages interconnecting these faces.

' AAttention is now directed to the feeding mech- !anismjllgf'the transfer chains I8, the adhesiveapplying mechanism 22, and the code-marking mechanism 23, all of Y which are located at theupper portion Tof Vlabeling head I2 between the two side lmembers 3,9 and 39a, and shown more 'particularly in Figs 1, 2, and `3. All of these lmechanisms are driven from continuously rotatinfgshaft 6'5 whichjinturn is driven from shaft "31 at the bottom iof the labeling head by means of'a vertica1's'h`aft'-85 and suitable bevel gearing Y per portions by suitable crossY memberssuchas indicatedat 4III` and -42 in`1ig.1. These two desirahleto beable-to adjust the spacing ofthe y suction boxes 43 and43a to accommodatebottlefs of different. diameters or labels having'different tating shaft 65"(,Figf.1j4).- `f"" Y f i Referring now to the transfer chains I`8,chain A- vvhicl'if'are'arrangedv vertically' above vdriving i shovv'ndiagranimatically in Fig. P(and leading to a continuously operated vacuum pump 'I0 that may be driven from motor29'or by a separate motor, -asdes-red." -Y

Vacuum `chambers or'bies vt3 andl'have removable ifront'cover members 1I, Aand extending along the inner margins-of each o'f Vthese covers there is a suotionftra'ck hav'igfa'row `of 'perforations 1.12 "formingfa straight trackV 'froinfthe topsite tneib'o'ttom and.alongwhichfthechain 143 l along :these two tracksxareinishedl smooth land '75 shownin Fig. 2.

The feeding mechanism I'I, which removes body andA neck labels I0 and II one at a `time from their respective magazines I5 and I'Irand -feeds them in successive pairsor groups to the transfer chains I8, includes` body label feedl roll 8B, neck label feed roll 86a, and Ya feed rollrof larger diameter indicated bynumeral 8'I. These are hard-faced rolls having a central groove core respondingdwith thevvidth of chain |85. Rolls 8:6 land Barotate continuously inyieldingcntact with each other and in o'ppositedi-Qv rections, the V'directions of rotation being indicated by the Varrowsrin Fig. 1.' They Aare keyed respectively on shafts and.88a`. Main feedV roll8'I Ais keyedv toa shaft 83 mounted parallel Y to and directly Jabove shaft '65. Bodylabel feed frollfBBl co'actswithfthe surface of ,feed roll- V8l,

,these twol rolls rotating "in opposite: directions'. The remainderof jthe label .feeding mechanism Will `be described latl on.V

driven by means of a 'gear'. 90 Figs` 2 fand "3) keyed'tothe end of shaft as meshing `with a. large gear SI whichis keyed 'on theendofa shaft'Z parallel vwith shaft "89 "-Whichperates the adhesive-applying mechanism to"bedescribed later. Large gear 9| ing'turn isl driven by agear 93 which is'keyed near the end of continuously rofy IIjb is driven from a sprocket'94 keyed to shaft (Figs. 2'and7') The upper end of'chain vI8b is trained around grooved vfeedrollv Vll'lf'of'the label feeding mechanism, the groovethereinbee ing'very slightly deeper than the thickness 'of the Vchain;(Fig: 2) fforfa lpurpose Whichwill appear later; Although grooved feed roll 81 lis driven at thesame rotative'speed'a's driving s'procketgllli,l there iwilllbe-la'slight' sliding of -the chain inthe The arrangement of sprockets SII-arid'grooyed 'feedrollArv'I/is such that 'the right-hand reach of chain" I 8b 'as shown-in Fig. l, for examplegfis maintained'i avert/ical plane which iS ifi alighment.,with suction conveyor I4 land its suction carrier chains I3. Theleflt-hand reach of clfiainV 4The adhesive-applying mechanismv comprises two disks`|03 (Fig.` 4) which are fixed to rotate with shaft 92 and which carry two pairs of adhesive-applyingsegments, one pair. |04 to 'apply the-.adhesive to the body labels and asecond and smaller pair |05 to apply the adhesive'to` .the neck-labels. As .shaft'92' rotates 'once during the delivery of each two groups of body and neck labels, the-segments ofeach pair' are mounted 180apart as shown in Fig..1. 1 It iwill'be understood that as 'a body label |0 is carried downward bythe transfer chains. 18a and |'8b a set of body label Vadhesive-applying pad segments |04 contacts the-marginal edges. of theflabel asshownl'in'Fig. 4 and. appliesfza stripof adhesive along each edge. In order/.to support the opposite or frontl 'surface of .the labels during this process a pair of freelyfrotating fin'"'rollersfl06v are carriedon a 'shaft |01: Adhesive issupplied 'to the surfaces ofthe ap'- plicatonpad' segments |04 and V|05 by themechanism fshown in Figs. 1 and4. 1

The code-marking mechanism 23 is mounted aboveadhesive-applying mechanism 22 vand-com pri'se'sa type-supporting sector 8 -(lgs. l andiS) which Ais fixed Ato shaft 99 close -to .onesideof groved roller 98 whichsupports the upperl end of transfer chain |8a. Roller 98 turns loosely on-'s liaft 99', although they-'may frotateat approximately the same speed'. Shaft 99 is ro- "and the location otl'shaft99l andthe radius type-Carried by this 'secto'r transferslan'imprese sionlo'nto" 'one' eXtreme *side edge-ofzfthe label lon er1-@after `it is what its'. .back ,cru inner' :.surfae applied te the bottle. 1 s IVV V `In order to drive shaft 99 for ty'pe sector-J I8 itis provided at oneend with a .gea-ril |9` (Figib) which meshes Vwith a double. width smaller gear |20,f the teeth of which valsofengagelarge gear 9|- which drives shaft 92f 'of the adhesive-applying mechanism'. Double width gear. .|20` is keyed tofthefend of asmau shaft |2'|-,1rand' exec-,on the-opposite end of this shaft Athere-is a second gear7"|,'225 which drives' the ink' applying mechrespective body-,labels |u.arid...|| are fed fromtheirfrespectivefniagazines '|15 and I6 by feed mechanism |1,"they are .fed one ata time between vthe vcoactingjffe'ed rolls 8'5Y and 86a to- Wards'mairi feed'v roll .781.' 'In order to direct the lading'fedg'e of each label toward this roll, a ist' tionary triangular-shaped guide member |29 '(:ig`."7-) isfprovidedi 5 ',IlhisY member has a curved guy' ing edge Aat its right-hand @surface andv is supported onrthe frameby meansoflja'j rod |30 (rig 3 j;he lower end of which is heid by nuts niadd theren. j The. upper. point or guide `V(hs-posed .within'vthe groovein feedroll ndvghenceis-,alway's below theV surface. of thisfeed roll'` so thatfitis impossible for? yairlab'el toimove. Otherwise-than t9v the righiaroeld. the -1owerside. .o f'feedgrollfj3 I j 1 As the labels pass between ieedgrp 'feed' roll ifthey...arefpdeflected1 dowr,iwardlyA by af second"v curved guide; l|3 |,1 ,(Fgl) which directs the' flabelsr alongithe l 'surfaces offeedroll 8 1 so that :theyzwill pass smoothly;between the upper ends offthetwo:transfer-chains |8a and. |813.

" 'Shaft' |52 is .continuously Vdriven vfrom thegad-y jacent 'shaft'89 4by meanslof--agear |53 which tatedin timed relation to the feeding mechanism The mechanisms-for eedingsbody .TI

necklabels 'oneat a time ifromitheirrespective magazines I5. aridV l5' willnow bedescribed. .This mechanism is '..i'llustrated in Figs. 9. .to' 20y .inclu-f sive; thef'ldetails/ofathe magazines being.:shownj Referring- .to. Fig.. ismael; twoliabi magazines.

|'5faridE .|6 are'.fsupp'oiitezlL n'lan elongated .rec-L tan'gularcross' bar. |55.. which"` extends .between the sidefran'ie members 39 "and'39aat the top. Maga.. zine' I 5` comprises twoy approximately: horizontal side' members I 56. whichiprojec'ttoward .the fright'.

|0 lissupported"atits right-hand sideby two narrow. fingers-1 |51 which are.'.sp'aced.afrorndeach:

other and from the side memberstl 56:. ,.'Thenippen Y `surfaceszoff thesenngers are. fiat platform-'like independently.- and' adjustably l mounted onev on.

The label staclr. f|'0' isrlsupportediatrits I 0r.'front side on.' two. narrow.1 lips f |595: formed .on or t"secured iat"y thebottoms of stwo' supports |60 which 1are falso". adjustably. mounted Son-'the' frame ofthe magazine bym'eans not shown. Lips .|59

cal side guidebars' |66 which, because .of theiyaryl are positioned. approximately.V opposite .ngers 5'|` as"shown"in.Fig. 5. :..A` single. verticali guide..bar 6 `fiszp'ositioned Vatthe center of magazine' |5i`and extends upwardly to the full .height of. the maga-1 zine. The' Vguiding surface of bar |6.-| is .also roundedlike guides |58. v 1 It will' be understood that thev front. or bottom edges of the` labelsas they. appear on the bottles arefdisposed adjacent guide bar |6l, .whileltheir rear or top edges are adjacent guides |58. .The sides` of the labels are..guided :by vupright .bars |62 fixed to side frame |56rand also by twona'r-A rowerguide bars |63 which are.,positioned'iadjacentthe front corners of the labels'and have ngerswhich project a. short distance beneath the bottom of the stack to provide additional support atthese points...V j j A Ity willbe understood that guides .|58 .and .sup-f ports |'60.can be adjusted to enable' magazine J5 to `receive. either thebias cut'label, .as shown in Figf5,.or-rectangular labels, 'and also to accommodate labels of different heights. Side frame members .|56 may alsobe adjusted on supporting bar |55 so :as to enable the magazine to'accommodate labels ofdifferent widths. f

l Magazine..|6 for theneck-.labels is, inigen eral Ysimilar in construction-to magazine- |45.P''It has a pairbf lower'side frame members|56a whichfare-fixed to thesupporting cross bar|55 and'two upright guides |.58a for. the outerlrear or top edge ofthe labels.` v-These have supporting ngersl |`5'|.a whichrsupportptherearfpart of'lthe label .stack. .Irak-magazine.: |.6....the'=:inneraforward or `flower,E edges of y`the labels, zwhichf. areiconyex v iniformfare .supported fbyronly a single llip:'|.54

which is securedfatzthe icenter of; the loweredge of* a" flat plate.. |65.l whichiforms '-thexinner. wellof thismagazinaf' z: n: Side members |56af..alsosupport upright rverti- Vinglrshapeof. .neck labels-1|., vare adjustablgin posi-tionas shown .inwFiez .5. The guiding-sure' facesiof .these barsare rounded, similar ltoguides |158 alici-|5811. VThe extreme,sid'ecornersY of the..

neck label stack are supported by means of fine gers llsecuredto sidemembers |'6a.V v

:The: labelLfeeding mechanism- :itself (Figs. '-13-1 201comprises the-.two feed rolls andfmxpree viously referredto, and in. thel embodiment. of' the invention illustrated, `:the third andl larger feed. roll'81. Feed roll 81, however, does not assist iin;

Ysepainatng thev labels;- one; at? a, time .fromthel bot- Y toms .of the two label stacksL I5 andI It.4 butgco- 81' ment.. substantially ingtheazdirectionof shaft 3.9. and feed'roll 81 (Fig. 10), and coil .springs v-| 82 arrangedjin apertures in the journalbox covers |83 `biasshaft 88 toward shaft 85. `Thus feed roll 86 .ismaintainectin Ayieldable engagement f with feedrolll, spring'.B2-.permitting the'surfeedthe labelsbetween the .upperends of .the two transfercchainswa and-A811. Intl'xexlabelfeedingmechanismpproper, tghatisy to` say, the mechaey nismiwhich separates.r the labels one :at a .time from the -label stacks, feed; rolls 86. yand. 86a are associated and. operated with other parts; all -as nowtoibedescribed. fr Y` I Eeed'rolls 86 and. 86a arekeyed: at thefcenters of their. .supporting shafts. 88; and 88.11 as .indi-- cated vat |68.: :Shafts V88 and 88a are supportedatztheirfopposite ends micloselyfadiaeent parallel relation in twofyoke members |69 and. l1() (Fig. 9) which .are mounted on ShaftV 89 '.tQ Divot freelyrthereon. These yoke .members Vhave large hubs sov as to kprovide a firm support von shaft 89 and each also Vhas a pairv of lugs |1|. projecting from the lower sideso these hubs.. .-1-

' Pivoted to. lugs. |11| `arenconnecting rods L12: (Fig. 10) which. terminate in eccentric: strapsV |13;eny gagng leccentrics ,|143which arekeyedyto shaft |52. The rotation .of shaft |52. therefore causes yokes |69 and |18to-,oscillatecontinuously, .moving. shafts 88 and 88a-and the parts carried there-.-

bytback`zand forth :beneath ,the label stacks in l magazinesland [6. Y .1 aFeed rolls v815 and 86a :are arranged opposite the centers of the two magazines .115.' and 1.6;

Y Both. of these rolls are groovedcentra'lly, vthe groove in roll 8S-being for the purpose ;of.;a-llow` ing the surface ofthis feed roll' to vrise slightly above the :lower endi'of central label guide I'Ei (Fig. .9) duringY the Vv.oscillation of yokes |89 and, |'1.8;;Roll aris grooved'inorderto receive the triangular-shaped guide |29 CFigzlBr). For con- Venience these grooves aremade of the samewiclth ferchain'lb.. ,1 I..

vAdjacent the Opposite sidesofrollstandisc onzshafts 88, and 88a ,respectively, `areftwo sheets'eparating suction members 'in :the form fof. spools oi' .cylinders |15 .and |1:5a,..vand |16 and |16a. Each of these spoolsrhas 'a pair of. suction opens. ingsrvl 1.1 and |1112, .and |18 and 1118er. .These openingsA are connected with-agsuction'pump through connections :to be Vdescribed presently;

Shaft 88 is continuouslyrotatedby .means of aipinion |19 (Figs. .,3 and 12).,V the tee-th .of

- which mesh with thoseiofygear A58; ongshaft .88.

shaft. 8.311115' .driven vfrom .sha1-1 sa; bmhe inter.- meshing gears `|88 on the popposite VVsides oft these Y two.v shafts, so that "the shafts yrotatein .opposite directioiis.'v as.. indicated byxthe arrows -inifigi 112.

' yokes' I 69'? and..|1|). Each fofi these journal .blocks is mounted. so .to shave '.a/limited slidingmove as fthegroove in feedrollfarwherein rides trans-1 Y faces of thesetwo rolls tor separate slightly when alabelpasses between 'thema :p ,.w f In a somewhatsimilar manner shaft. 88111is biased .toward shaft 88, Vitsv two journal blocks |84 being mounted inyokes |59, and |18 in such a way as to permit 4limited .Sliding movement in a direction .at .rightganglesgto .that of Vioni-nal blocks |8.|.. Coilsprings |66, which'arepositioned in .apertures in yokes V|88 ,and |111. at the, left-g `hand'side of journal blocks |84, bias-.shaft A.88ct towards the right, asY viewed in Fig. 10;. Springs |85 are held in place Ybygmeans ofscrews |861 In; this way; feed rolls .88a and .suction :spools |1511.

twoiparallel shafts 88., 88a .which 'are supported Y on thepivoted yokes rIt-'and |18, Yand thefeed rollsand Vacuum spools carried by these shafts), two labels are separated from their magazines, a body label'l. frommagazine I Ea-nd a necklabel I. from. magazine These llabels are fed lfirst between the Vtwo continuously rotating grooved feedJrolls 8.6,'- mthencebetween roll86 and feed `roll l81,. andt :thence ybetween carrier, chains Baand Bbfof `the* adhesiveapplying mechanism.

To accomplish .thisseparation-and feeding.I oi the two labels between feedrolls 86,8811, the two pairs of suction separating spools |15,-:|16,and |1511, |16a 'are madeto turn-,on their `respective shafts 8'8 and' 88a with karolling'oscillating movement causing suction spools |15,- |-1:B vto roll into contact with and along the bottom surface-of .the lowermost. body lablelgl in magazinedon the rightfhand' stroke (Fig. 1.3.)- of Vfeeding Amechanism.. I1, andin thefopposite direction during the Ileftfha'nd strokej During the left-hand stroke suction rolls |1511, |1611, turningin theV same direction T1 as,Y spoolsf |16, lll-,gare brought into contact. with -the ,lowerinost neck label in magazine I6 (seeFigs. 13,-20).,` A .j l

Such turning movement .of suction. separating spools |15, |16 .is eiectedby theengagement of the teethiof two pinions 17,81 and |88 withfthe teeth of Vtwo stationary. curved 4 racks. |89Ean'd 190, pinions |81gand lrbeingfformed ir'itegrallyv with suction spools |.15and.|respectively (Figsi e, 11, 12.A and 13)'.1 Racks Y las and jlso have a width which is deurne thato'fthe teeth ofp'mions .|81'and |88 forfth'ereason that thes'eifsame' racksl "of suction separating spool-s |15,A |16 and 11511,

"| 16a turn jin 'the :same direction;V this 1 direction being" opposite to the angulai'fn'iotioniof support! ing'yokes wil-F9185 .7; Y

. 9 v.- |15, |16 `and suction openings |11a of theneck label suction separating Y`spools |15d, |1'6a'du'r- Y. ing substantially onel complete revolutionof shaft |52`which carries operating cranks oreccentrlcs |14; It' will' be observed that'the: angular Aposimost remote point from the lowermost neck label In Fig. 14' the, eccentric or crank-r |14 hasl rotated in a counter-clockwise direction es 'indicated, by the arrows. through an .angle ofv be- .tween 30 and 45.V This has rocked yokes |69, towards the right and brought thesurfaces of Asuction separating spools `|15 and feed rollsl 86 into contact withthe bottom ofthe label stack, and has,in fact, raised the lower .portion-ofthe stack somewhat away fromv its supportinglips |59 (Fig. 5). (The forward. or. lefthand,edge margin of the lowermost body label |0\ha,sb1een Ydrawn Vagainst the surface voffspools |15, .|16 by ,the force of `the suction.thro ugh` openings '|11, l|18, that is, by the air pressure on the opposite side of this label. j j

In Fig. 15 crank |14 has `rotated farther and yokes |69, |10 have swung farther tothe right. Suction openings |11, |18,- however, are still in a position directly adjacentrlips'l59. Thefforward margin of the label has been curved around the surface of the spools and forced-below l ips |59 which formerly supported it. The curving of the label around the `spools facilitates the ldis.- engagementof the'edge of the label from` these lips. It will be noted that the rear edge off-the I label isn-still ingcontact with the upright guides |58 ofthe label magazine, as the arrangement is such that in making the rolling contact with the surface of the bottom label the motion of the surface on the spools towards the left. cancels the motion of yokes |69,` |10 towards the right.

In Fig. 16 the motion of crank' |14 has continued and lowermost label l0 is wrapped still farther around the surface of spools |15, |16. In Fig. 17; crank |14 has made one-half a revolution and yokes|69, |10 are therefore at the extreme i.

right-hand end of their forward stroke.l Spools ,|15, |1|5-lj1ave` nowrot-ated sufficiently farv to carry the forward edge of lowermostlabel I0 between the continuously rotatingrfeed rolls 86,':86a and the label-will be immediately pulled off from vthe rear supporting fingers |51. 1 Y

In Fig. 18 crank |14 has rotated sufficiently to carry yokes |69, |10 almost one-half the distance of their back stroke towards the left and spools |15, |16 are now turning yin the opposite direction. The suction through openings |11, |18 h-as been cut off, however, as will be described later, and continuously rotating feed rolls 86, 86a are continuing tofeed the label downward. The forward edge of the label has also entered between feed rolls 86, 81 (see also Fig. 1) and is being directed towards the two transfer chains |8a and |8b.

Between the position of crank |14 shown in Fig. 13 and that shown in Fig. 18, the suction openings |11a, |18a in'suctioine'ck label separat- "ing spools |15a, |16a have rotatdfrom the position shown in Fig. 13 to contact with the'forf ward or right-hand edge margins of lowermost neck label`|| in magazine 4|6,'.as indicatedA in Fig.v 18 and .these spools are'now rotating in a clockwise ,direction'inasmu'chas yokes |69, |10

Fig.' 5), and'in Fig. 19 the separation has taken place and the labelis being wrapped around the suctionspools |15a, |16a.'":It:will be observed Athat its forward vedge is spaced from'but follows rather. closely`the rear edge of the preceding body V'label I0-) y In Fig'. 20V thesu'ction spools |15a, |16a yhave carriedthe forward edgeof neck labelllgbevtween the continuously rotating feed rolls 86, 86a

land the label has been completely removed from magazine I6 and is Suction openings |11, |18 of suction spools'ii15, |16 are connected with a vacuum pump cylinder |9|r (Figs. 1 and 3).', and suctionopenings |11a. |18a of suction spools |15a, |16a to a similar'cylinder |9|a. These cylinders are appropriately mounted on side frame members 39 and 39a'respectively,,and their pistonjrods are operatively connected .to two cranks I92land.- |92.a .which are being'fed `towards feed rolls .fixed onshaft |52 Vat,180 from each other;

Suction openings .|11, |18 are connected/with cylinder' |9|yby means of .the-air passageways shownin Fig; 9 by two -iiexiblejtubes |93- and |93a which are preferably joined together. and

'connected Vtofa common air pipe V(notzshowfi') -leading vfrom 1 cylinder lbetween p openings f |11a and j |180L `arefrsimilar 1andlead through flexible tubes |9`l|.and .|9411 to cylinder |9f|a. Referring .to Figs.` y9 and v22, the four flexible tubes 193,' |93a and |94', |94`a i9 The connections are connected respectively vto vtwo pairszof. vac;- uum chests' |95 and|95a (Fi'g.z1l). Inasmuch as the air passageways' connectin .iiexibletubef |93 with vsuction openings |11 are identical with thosey connecting: `tube ".i 93a Y with openings |18 andtubes |94'and|9,4a with suctionfopeni'ngs |1111A and |1841v respectively, .a description of only one set of these passagesv will be given.

Vacuum chest |95 (Figs. 9 and'll) has a ring.- like portion |96 and a projecting arm |91. Ring-like portion" l|96 is fitted loosely.:on. aire'- duced hub |98 on suction separating Vspools |15.v

Ring-like portion |96 hasv a flat side face which isyieldingly pressed against a shoulderformed on lthe end of spool |15, by means of a coil spring. |99. In the side face of ring-like member |96there; is formed 4a circularV grooye 200 which vis injcommunication with'a passageway .20| Vin varm .|91y which in' turn communicates with flexible tube |93.

. The connection between circular groove 200 and suction openings |11 is made b-y means of a drilled passageway 202 (Fig. 9) which extends the vacuum spools the arm |91 of pair |95 are joined together by means of helical springs, one of which is shown at 203 in Fig. 11, which causes rthese arms to be pressed lightly against the Yhub `of 'yoke member 169. In like manner'the arms `IEll ofpair: H9560 are held'against the .hub

fofyoke member; Uil. 1 Y ,It 'vvil'l; be.: understood that'l the cranks: '192; and

I #19211? which drive the "pistons vvith'inrva'cuumY cylinders. Ivi) I'. and :19m are so` positioned afsto appropriately timeihe application of suction to the respective,openingssll, |78,:and. Illa, Ha

ato''acilitate the. separation 'and fieedingrof4 'the body `and neck labels,y as previously' described.

B'ymeans ofthe present invention there has :been provided'an apparatus forseparatingand 1 feeding individual labels or the 4like .from `.the magazines.' This'mechanism can .be Yused: toop- 'eratelon-:labels sheets, etc. that.' cannot be sat- Y-isfactorrily handled byapparatus now available, such, for example, as labels or other sheets made of .extremely thin, limp -material, lbut this. mech- I :forholding at supply 'of sheets, a Vpairfofeppo-A sitely rotating coacting feed'rolls, a pair'of sheetseparating suction umembers having .arcuate sur- .acese of;substantially the same radius asV one o ifvsaidfeed rolls 'and 'disposed respectively Eadjacent the opposite :ends of said' feed Aroll and `coaxially therewith, falined suction openings Yfin f'thesuiaCes of said respective sheet-separating Ymembers,v means for 4supplying suction thereto, 'La common-'pivoted frame for supporting said feed Ysf-ro'lls. and sheet-separating vmembers ywith the `'axesfof said lfeed rolls extending` crossw'ise Tof *fthe delivery end'oifsaid magazine, and. means forsimultaneously 'rocking said pivoted frame and oscillating said separating members ntheir laxes to bring' the arcuate surfaces of `said sep. ,l

fai-ating Vmembers -into contact Vwith, the forelmost 'sheet in said magazine. l I

2. In' a Vsh'e'et feeding mechanism,l a magazine for holding a `supply of sheets",4 a pairfof oppojsitely'rotating coacting feed rolls, a'sheet-separating suction member having an arcuatesur'- fafa-cet of substantially .the saine radius-as one of `said feed rolls vand disposed adjacent said roll -and'coaxially therewith, a suction opening in the surface of said separatingmember, means -for supplying suction thereto, a Vcommon pivfoted yframe for supportingV said feed rolls and sheet-separating member with the :axis :thereof -extendingi-crosswise of the delivery end ofzsaid magazine, and means for rocking said'pivoted frame `and simultaneously oscillating' said sep`- V`arati'ng member on its axis to bring the arcuate -arat'ing members to-pull 'they forward edgef-ofy i foremost sheet insaidimagazine. v

' 3i In. a sheet: feeding machine,` ,twofmagazines 'surface of said membervinto contact .withZ the .for iholding supplies of sheets,v said magazines being :arranged With theirv delivery ends adia- Ycent, 'one .anothen afparlof oppositelyrotating -ccactingi' feed 4ro1ls,f,tv.'.oi pairs: of. sheet-separating suction members having arcuatezisurfaces of" substantially thefsame radius as said feed rolls, one 'pair beingI disposed Vadjacent theopposite endsf of each of' :said feed rolls vand ooaxially therewith, alinedsu'c'tion openings in kthe surfaces of each'pair of sheet-separating mem- -bers, means for supplying suction :theretopla common pivoted` iframe for supporting said` lfe'ed y 'rolls 'and sheet-separait'ingY members With :the Y.axes thereof fand between 'the delivery endsof .said'magaz'ines extendingcros's'wise adjacent and means for rocking said -pivoted Vframe te- Wardsalternate magazines andY simultaneously os ci11ating said separating members on Fi'their axes, to Vbring the surfaces of said respective Pairs of: separating rrienrbersyinto 'contact 'alternately with `the foremost sheet,4v in saifd'relspe'ctiye magazines, thereby causingsaid septhe lowermost sheet Afrom each-of isaid magayzines and move it bel'f/eeny saidlc'oactingffeed rolls during each Ycomplete rocking vrrlovement -of said frame.

4.= A sheet feeding mechanism as set iorthin claim -l in Whicha third feedY roll isV arranged to co'actY with one of the feed' rolls fofjsa'id pair,

and wherein the pivot of said pivoted frame` is @netbeans of said third feed rou. l f

5J A'Y sheet feeding mechanism as set forth in claim I in -vv-hiclrtheV magazine has a marginal support for the frontj'edge of 'the' stack, vand Vtheoscillationof"the pivoted -frame towards the stack causes' the sheet-separating member to raise Vthe bottom sheet Asomewhat from said'mar- Vvginalsupport to assi'stthefsuction through the VVsuction openings in separating said sheetffrom 'the stacl v v .Y Y A,

' 'EDGAR YARDELLQ REFERENCES :CITED 'The Yfollowing references are of record in the fue'v ofj'this patent: l UNITED STATES PATENTS Date- Number Name A 524,309 'Clarke yAug'. 14; 1894 v11,095,726 Green May 5, 1914 1230438 Eick Junefie, i917 15,308,280' Ermold July 1, 19,1-9 1,323,869 Currie Apr; 5,` 1921 1,709,857 Kleineberg Apr.v23, 1929 2,114,593 Y Donnellan Apr.f19, 1938 2,352,088 i "1944 Evans j June. 120,

- PAUL E. FISCHER, 

